This is my collection of minis.
Well, most of it.
This is going to be a superpost.
Well, most of it.
This is going to be a superpost.
I LOVE MINIS. It's how I got into makeup. Tiny morsels of things to try, and with so many, you never really need the full size of anything.
So here's a brief breakdown. (Well, a long post, but brief on each topic.)
FACE PRODUCTS:
Benefit Dandelion: awesome. Really cute soft pink color, a bit sheer but I like subtle blushes. It's not matte, it just has the right amount of sheen to wake you up.
Benefit Watt's Up: Killer champagne stick highlighter. From the Sephora birthday gift. I used to use only a tiny bit because it seemed so sparkly, but I saw one of my roommates use it very liberally and it looked great so I tried it and I have seen the light.
Benefit Girl Meets Pearl: I LOVE IT this is super great for mixing in with foundations, actually, since I'm not a huge primer person. It's a pearly pink-toned highlighter/primer.
Urban Decay All-Nighter: This stuff is awesome because, well, Texas weather. I really recommend it, especially to anyone that touches their face a lot because it keeps your makeup on, and keeps oil at bay so if you do touch your face, your hands come off clean.
Benefit The Porefessional (yeah, there's two, anyone want one?): Meh. I'm not a primer person but this does feel super luxe and velvety from the silicone, and is nice for pore filling and face smoothing, but I'm not really concerned with that so I don't feel like it's a life-changing product for me.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Opal: This is a life-changing product for me. You can mix as much of this as you want into your foundation or tinted moisturizer and you will never look overdone. Looks especially lovely topped with mattifying powder to give a lit-from-within glow. This is a peachy liquid highlighter, which works better for me than Girl Meets Pearl.
NARS Laguna: I'm still learning how to use bronzer but I can recognize that this is a beautiful one. Gorgeous texture and not too shimmery for contouring, not too matte for bronzing. It also makes a beautiful eyeshadow! It's a light sheer brown with gold sparkles that you shouldn't be scared of.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer: Meh. I haven't used it much so I can't say either way whether I like it or not.
Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous: This one is tricky. I want to love it but it's too dark and orange for me. Other than that, I do like the texture and coverage, so there's that. Lightweight and pretty sheer but nice for when you just need a little something to go out. It's like... kind of a concealer, kind of a cream foundation, but sheer. They put the Medium shade in all their kits, which is cool if you're that shade, but if you're not I'd give it to a friend.
EYE PRODUCTS:
Benefit BADgal lash: I love this mascara and the 'cute lashes' it gives- very dark, defined, a little volumized and feathery. However, it smudges, so I don't reeeeeally love it. With a setting spray though it's awesome.
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liners in Whiskey, Woodstock, Junkie, Radium: These are my favorite of all time probably. I've only bought one full-size but it was totally worth it. They're super smooth and creamy and easy to sharpen, plus they come in an insane amount of colors, so if you can grab a kit like the Electric pencil set they had a while back at Nordstrom Rack, do it. I do have a lot of transfer from the liner to my upper lid because I have hooded eyes, so a primer underneath going all the way up and some translucent powder or neutral eyeshadow helps a ton. Whiskey is a red-toned brown, Woodstock is bright shimmery pink, Junkie is mermaid teal with mermaid gold sparkles, and Radium is bright shimmery blue.
Stila Magnificent Metals eyeshadow in Kitten: Okay, I know this was from the Summerstash kit, and it's summer, but I haven't tried this yet. I'll do a post on it when I do, though, because it intrigues me so much. It's beautiful. A champagney sparkly shadow with tiny silver glitter, it looks like.
LIP PRODUCTS:
OCC Stained Gloss in New Wave: Super cute summer color and SUPER bright. I haven't tried a lot of OCC but this one I really love, I'm going to be sad when it runs out but I have enough bright pinks that I don't need to buy it full-size.
Fresh Sugar lip balm in Rose (and the original, at the bottom): I love this stuff so much and I'm almost done with the tube that I've been carefully saving. It's the most beautiful color with just the right amount of pigment, but the packaging doesn't work for how soft this balm's texture is. Lovely, but impractical. This is, though, the balm that changed it all. I find it to be extremely hydrating and the original is my go-to for an overnight treatment of super chapped lips. (It's okay, though, I found a much better replacement. Post coming soon.)
Buxom Full-Bodied lipstick in Menace: This color is to die for and the formula is lovely. Perhaps a bit too dark for my tastes in vampy shades but wonderful nonetheless. A dark purpley red.
Some random gloss that came with a Juicy Couture bracelet: Actually really nice, bought with a dear friend and it's a nice memory. Cute, juicy looking pink.
Kat Von D Foiled Love in Adora: I really wanted to love this one but it's too orange for me. I wanted it to be a bright metallic red but it's more of a rusty, coppery orange color, but if that's what you want it's good. I'm not a fan of the texture, but that's what lip balm is for.
Benefit gloss in Dandelion: Can I mention that this smells like peach gummies?! It's also a lovely nudeish color, which I was really glad to see because all the reviews I had read said this line of gloss was super sheer. However, it still gives a noticeable cute pink tint with a tiny amount of shimmer.
Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian: Probably the prettiest pale nude pink ever. I love the tingly effect but it might be a bit much for some people. Also since seeing Helena offer someone a White Russian drink on Orphan Black, I love it even more.
Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate: Another one I wanted to love. It's a beautiful red, extremely pigmented, but just had too much slip for me to wear it much. I adore a good red, but since I wear it so often I don't like it to be high-maintenance, and this one definitely is.
Hourglass Opaque Rouge liquid lipstick in Icon: Beautiful. I think this is a red that will look lovely in its own way on everyone, even though it's darker and bold. On me, it looks dramatic and classy without the need for any other makeup. Also, it stays on FOREVER, so be prepared to wear it for, like, three days.
MUFE Rouge Natural in N45: Cute cute cute. A super natural-looking sheer flush of color, not a bold red at all but an upgrade from a pigmented tinted balm. A very 'wintery' color to me, as it looks great with the flush you get from a chilly walk outside!
Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo in Neutral (Retsina/Shiraz): This is a pretty lipstick duo, great for having just one or creating a subtle ombre look with Shiraz to brighten up the pale Retsina. However, it also melted in the car, so I'm thinking Bite Beauty is not a brand meant for hot weather or people who like their lipstick to stay on their lips, because it has a lot of slip and doesn't stick around very long. I also have this somewhere in a bright red and pink, which also melted. THANKS.
Urban Decay Lip Junkie gloss in Naked and Crush: I love this formula but Naked doesn't show up very well because it's hecka sheer shimmery nude. Crush, though, was the first actually pigmented gloss I ever owned, so it has a special place in my heart and is a beautiful bright pink, even with the thinnest layer.
Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker: Ha, ha, dirty names. I like this but I don't notice any real plumping effect, as this is what it says it does... also another sheer shimmery nude gloss.
Stila Stay All Day liquid lipstick in Dolce: I absolutely like this. It's totally the wrong color. Do I care? A little. But topped with a lighter gloss, the terra-cotta tones are drowned out by how long it wears and how comfortable it feels. I can't heeeeear yoooouuuu, brown colors!
C.O. Bigelow whatever super awesome minty gloss in Vanilla Mint: I LOVE IT that's all. I love vanilla and minty things.
Tarte Glamazon lipstick in Inspired: Meh. It's alright but I think the formula is pretty dry-- also I don't usually complain about the sizes of minis and samples, but this one is TINY and the issue is that it's like trying to put on doll lipstick. The tube looks like a normal size but the bullet is super thin, which doesn't help the dryness during application. The color is kind of a mauvey neutraly color, I don't particularly care for it but that's just me.
Stila Color Balm in Sonya: It's minty. It's vampy. It's comfy. It also extends past the top of the tube, so I've messed it up a lot trying to open it. This is a very highly recommended color for when you want to look vampy but you don't actually feel like messing around with that, it's sheer plummy-red.
Kat Von D Painted Love liquid lipstick: Okay, I also don't like this. Liquid lipsticks in general I'm curious about but don't love a ton. This one has an okay formula, but is so shockingly PINK! and MATTE! and COOL TONED! that it just doesn't agree with me, but it does get points for lasting through meals.
And, yeah, I've gotten more minis since I've taken this photo, and I forgot to include some of the ones I owned at the time. Oops.
Tip: Buy Benefit sets. Can you tell that I live for Benefit minis? I think they're the best in the sample-size game, they have a ton of sets with 'em and you can even buy just the samples on their website! Or use a code online at Sephora! Also, I got a free sample of Lollitint at the mall last week, they're generous. Can't wait to use it.
So here's a brief breakdown. (Well, a long post, but brief on each topic.)
FACE PRODUCTS:
Benefit Dandelion: awesome. Really cute soft pink color, a bit sheer but I like subtle blushes. It's not matte, it just has the right amount of sheen to wake you up.
Benefit Watt's Up: Killer champagne stick highlighter. From the Sephora birthday gift. I used to use only a tiny bit because it seemed so sparkly, but I saw one of my roommates use it very liberally and it looked great so I tried it and I have seen the light.
Benefit Girl Meets Pearl: I LOVE IT this is super great for mixing in with foundations, actually, since I'm not a huge primer person. It's a pearly pink-toned highlighter/primer.
Urban Decay All-Nighter: This stuff is awesome because, well, Texas weather. I really recommend it, especially to anyone that touches their face a lot because it keeps your makeup on, and keeps oil at bay so if you do touch your face, your hands come off clean.
Benefit The Porefessional (yeah, there's two, anyone want one?): Meh. I'm not a primer person but this does feel super luxe and velvety from the silicone, and is nice for pore filling and face smoothing, but I'm not really concerned with that so I don't feel like it's a life-changing product for me.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Opal: This is a life-changing product for me. You can mix as much of this as you want into your foundation or tinted moisturizer and you will never look overdone. Looks especially lovely topped with mattifying powder to give a lit-from-within glow. This is a peachy liquid highlighter, which works better for me than Girl Meets Pearl.
NARS Laguna: I'm still learning how to use bronzer but I can recognize that this is a beautiful one. Gorgeous texture and not too shimmery for contouring, not too matte for bronzing. It also makes a beautiful eyeshadow! It's a light sheer brown with gold sparkles that you shouldn't be scared of.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer: Meh. I haven't used it much so I can't say either way whether I like it or not.
Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous: This one is tricky. I want to love it but it's too dark and orange for me. Other than that, I do like the texture and coverage, so there's that. Lightweight and pretty sheer but nice for when you just need a little something to go out. It's like... kind of a concealer, kind of a cream foundation, but sheer. They put the Medium shade in all their kits, which is cool if you're that shade, but if you're not I'd give it to a friend.
EYE PRODUCTS:
Benefit BADgal lash: I love this mascara and the 'cute lashes' it gives- very dark, defined, a little volumized and feathery. However, it smudges, so I don't reeeeeally love it. With a setting spray though it's awesome.
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liners in Whiskey, Woodstock, Junkie, Radium: These are my favorite of all time probably. I've only bought one full-size but it was totally worth it. They're super smooth and creamy and easy to sharpen, plus they come in an insane amount of colors, so if you can grab a kit like the Electric pencil set they had a while back at Nordstrom Rack, do it. I do have a lot of transfer from the liner to my upper lid because I have hooded eyes, so a primer underneath going all the way up and some translucent powder or neutral eyeshadow helps a ton. Whiskey is a red-toned brown, Woodstock is bright shimmery pink, Junkie is mermaid teal with mermaid gold sparkles, and Radium is bright shimmery blue.
Stila Magnificent Metals eyeshadow in Kitten: Okay, I know this was from the Summerstash kit, and it's summer, but I haven't tried this yet. I'll do a post on it when I do, though, because it intrigues me so much. It's beautiful. A champagney sparkly shadow with tiny silver glitter, it looks like.
LIP PRODUCTS:
OCC Stained Gloss in New Wave: Super cute summer color and SUPER bright. I haven't tried a lot of OCC but this one I really love, I'm going to be sad when it runs out but I have enough bright pinks that I don't need to buy it full-size.
Fresh Sugar lip balm in Rose (and the original, at the bottom): I love this stuff so much and I'm almost done with the tube that I've been carefully saving. It's the most beautiful color with just the right amount of pigment, but the packaging doesn't work for how soft this balm's texture is. Lovely, but impractical. This is, though, the balm that changed it all. I find it to be extremely hydrating and the original is my go-to for an overnight treatment of super chapped lips. (It's okay, though, I found a much better replacement. Post coming soon.)
Buxom Full-Bodied lipstick in Menace: This color is to die for and the formula is lovely. Perhaps a bit too dark for my tastes in vampy shades but wonderful nonetheless. A dark purpley red.
Some random gloss that came with a Juicy Couture bracelet: Actually really nice, bought with a dear friend and it's a nice memory. Cute, juicy looking pink.
Kat Von D Foiled Love in Adora: I really wanted to love this one but it's too orange for me. I wanted it to be a bright metallic red but it's more of a rusty, coppery orange color, but if that's what you want it's good. I'm not a fan of the texture, but that's what lip balm is for.
Benefit gloss in Dandelion: Can I mention that this smells like peach gummies?! It's also a lovely nudeish color, which I was really glad to see because all the reviews I had read said this line of gloss was super sheer. However, it still gives a noticeable cute pink tint with a tiny amount of shimmer.
Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian: Probably the prettiest pale nude pink ever. I love the tingly effect but it might be a bit much for some people. Also since seeing Helena offer someone a White Russian drink on Orphan Black, I love it even more.
Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate: Another one I wanted to love. It's a beautiful red, extremely pigmented, but just had too much slip for me to wear it much. I adore a good red, but since I wear it so often I don't like it to be high-maintenance, and this one definitely is.
Hourglass Opaque Rouge liquid lipstick in Icon: Beautiful. I think this is a red that will look lovely in its own way on everyone, even though it's darker and bold. On me, it looks dramatic and classy without the need for any other makeup. Also, it stays on FOREVER, so be prepared to wear it for, like, three days.
MUFE Rouge Natural in N45: Cute cute cute. A super natural-looking sheer flush of color, not a bold red at all but an upgrade from a pigmented tinted balm. A very 'wintery' color to me, as it looks great with the flush you get from a chilly walk outside!
Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo in Neutral (Retsina/Shiraz): This is a pretty lipstick duo, great for having just one or creating a subtle ombre look with Shiraz to brighten up the pale Retsina. However, it also melted in the car, so I'm thinking Bite Beauty is not a brand meant for hot weather or people who like their lipstick to stay on their lips, because it has a lot of slip and doesn't stick around very long. I also have this somewhere in a bright red and pink, which also melted. THANKS.
Urban Decay Lip Junkie gloss in Naked and Crush: I love this formula but Naked doesn't show up very well because it's hecka sheer shimmery nude. Crush, though, was the first actually pigmented gloss I ever owned, so it has a special place in my heart and is a beautiful bright pink, even with the thinnest layer.
Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker: Ha, ha, dirty names. I like this but I don't notice any real plumping effect, as this is what it says it does... also another sheer shimmery nude gloss.
Stila Stay All Day liquid lipstick in Dolce: I absolutely like this. It's totally the wrong color. Do I care? A little. But topped with a lighter gloss, the terra-cotta tones are drowned out by how long it wears and how comfortable it feels. I can't heeeeear yoooouuuu, brown colors!
C.O. Bigelow whatever super awesome minty gloss in Vanilla Mint: I LOVE IT that's all. I love vanilla and minty things.
Tarte Glamazon lipstick in Inspired: Meh. It's alright but I think the formula is pretty dry-- also I don't usually complain about the sizes of minis and samples, but this one is TINY and the issue is that it's like trying to put on doll lipstick. The tube looks like a normal size but the bullet is super thin, which doesn't help the dryness during application. The color is kind of a mauvey neutraly color, I don't particularly care for it but that's just me.
Stila Color Balm in Sonya: It's minty. It's vampy. It's comfy. It also extends past the top of the tube, so I've messed it up a lot trying to open it. This is a very highly recommended color for when you want to look vampy but you don't actually feel like messing around with that, it's sheer plummy-red.
Kat Von D Painted Love liquid lipstick: Okay, I also don't like this. Liquid lipsticks in general I'm curious about but don't love a ton. This one has an okay formula, but is so shockingly PINK! and MATTE! and COOL TONED! that it just doesn't agree with me, but it does get points for lasting through meals.
And, yeah, I've gotten more minis since I've taken this photo, and I forgot to include some of the ones I owned at the time. Oops.
Tip: Buy Benefit sets. Can you tell that I live for Benefit minis? I think they're the best in the sample-size game, they have a ton of sets with 'em and you can even buy just the samples on their website! Or use a code online at Sephora! Also, I got a free sample of Lollitint at the mall last week, they're generous. Can't wait to use it.
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